Why Do Hearing Aids Need Repairs?

A hearing aid is a small electronic device that gets used daily, like all electronic devices it can be affected by dust particles, water and general wear and tear. Below are some of the reasons why your hearing aid might need to be repaired now and then. 

Fluctuating Volume 

Your Hearing aid is specially designed to allow for incremental volume adjustment, this is important to get the precise settings for your personal hearing settings. If you can't adjust the volume it points to an issue. 

Also, if the volume of your device is too high and won’t come down or the device squeals then your hearing aid might need a repair. This is probably an issue with the device's internal components. 

Physical Defects 

Hearing aid devices are quite delicate, they are made from plastic shells that cover a circuit board, a battery and a microphone. These shells are easily damaged and can lead to a faulty device. If your device is older, it might have some cracks and damage in the shell that allows moisture or dust into the device. This can lead to repairs or replacement of the device by a hearing care provider. 

Whistling Sounds 

Whistling sounds are quite common with hearing devices, they happen when there is a problem with the battery, with a build-up of wax in the ear or when the device is not fitting properly. If you experience a whistling sound in your hearing device, take the device out and clean it. Also, check your inner ear for signs of wax and clean them out. If the problem persistent take your device to your hearing healthcare professional. 

Recurring Issues 

Hearing devices can be quite hard to understand, they have a range of functions and settings designed to optimize to various conditions, people and lifestyles. Because of this, there can be recurrent issues with settings. Don't live with a device that is uncomfortable or functions just well enough. Your hearing device should be comfortable and functional, so if you get recurrent issues take it to your hearing health professional for repairs. 

Hearing is Worse 

The point of a hearing device is to improve your hearing and adapt to your personal circumstances, if this is not the case and you find your hearing is worse or is still faulty it is probably an issue with the settings and something your hearing healthcare professional can solve. Don't settle for anything less than perfect hearing when it comes to your hearing device – it will be sophisticated enough to adapt to your hearing – so take it to your hearing care provider to have it optimized properly. 

Dead Battery 

Hearing devices use a small button battery that has a lifespan of about a month although this can vary depending on the device. You can expect the battery to die from time to time so don't worry too much if you start to lose sounds from it.

Take your device to your hearing healthcare professional to have a new battery installed. This is one of the more common hearing aid repairs you will need to carry out.